I write the books I wish I’d read as a child.
Kids should see themselves in the books they read.
From record-breaking athletes like Venus and Serena Williams to world-changing powerhouses like Lorraine Hansberry, my books profile a new type of hero: champions of justice who stood up in the face of inequality.
WHAT I MUST TELL THE WORLD
HOW LORRAINE HANSBERRY FOUND HER VOICE
A luminous picture book biography about artist and activist Lorraine Hansberry, who was the playwright of A Raisin in the Sun, the first play by a Black woman to be produced on Broadway.
Lorraine Hansberry soared to fame when her play A Raisin in the Sun debuted on Broadway, and her work would go on to influence generations of artists. But before the spotlight, Lorraine was a little girl who walked everywhere with a notebook, eager to capture the sights, sounds, and stories of the people around her.
What I Must Tell the World follows Lorraine’s journey to finding her voice and her determination to bring Black stories to the stage. Jay Leslie’s text and Loveis Wise’s artwork capture the experiences that inspired Lorraine, from her childhood in the segregated south side of Chicago to her adult years in Harlem creating alongside other legends like James Baldwin. This picture book is a lyrical celebration of Lorraine Hansberry’s life and legacy and an ode to the power of theater and storytelling.
Read more here.
WHO DID IT FIRST?
50 POLITICIANS, ACTIVISTS, AND ENTREPRENEURS WHO REVOLUTIONIZED THE WORLD
A vibrantly illustrated and compelling collection of profiles about women and men who revolutionized politics, policy, commerce and activism.
You likely know that Barack Obama was the first African American president of the United States. And you maybe you know that Sandra Day O’Connor was the first woman to serve as a Supreme Court Justice. But you might not know that Nelson Mandela was the first black president of South Africa. Or that Schuyler Bailar is the first openly transgender NCAA Division 1 swimmer.
Who Did It First? brings together all of these trailblazers into one stunning package. With both well-known figures and lesser-known heroes, this book is a celebration of the inspiring innovators who braved uncharted waters to pave the path for future generations.
Read more here.
GAME, SET, SISTERS!
THE STORY OF VENUS AND SERENA WILLIAMS
A stirring picture book biography of Venus and Serena Williams that celebrates their achievements…and their sisterhood.
This is the story of two sisters…
who took the tennis world by storm,
who achieved everything possible in the sport…and then some,
and who stood by one another through thick and thin.
Featuring illustrations by Ebony Glenn, Jay Leslie's Game, Set, Sisters! The Story of Venus and Serena Williams tells the inspirational story of two of the most beloved athletes in history. It takes us from their beginnings on a crumbling Compton tennis court to their shining achievements on the most prestigious stages and shows us that despite being served the most challenging hardships in life—illness, family, loss, racism—Venus and Serena always continued to swing back stronger.
Read more here.
EXPLORING CIVIL RIGHTS
The civil rights movement in 1965 was fraught with assassination, brutal attacks, and an attempt to deny Black Americans the right to vote. In February, Malcolm X, a Black religious leader and human rights activist, was slain. Bloody Sunday followed in March when 600 civil rights protesters attempted to walk from Selma to Montgomery, the capital of Alabama, to oppose the suppression of the Black vote. As a result, the Voting Rights Act of 1965 was ultimately signed into law in August. The civil rights movement succeeded in getting legislation passed, but the fight against racism, discrimination, and hatred was far from over.
Books in this series:
Jay Leslie
Jay Leslie has always loved to write. Everywhere she goes, she carries a notebook just in case she gets a new idea - most of all, she loves to write the books that she wishes she’d had as a child.
Jay grew up in the United States, but now lives in Berlin, Germany, where she spends her time writing novels, learning new languages, and backpacking through the Schwarzwald. Who Did It First? 50 Politicians, Activists, and Revolutionized the World is her first book for children.
Her other work is available at www.Jamie-McGhee.com.
Represented by Wendi Gu of Greenburger Associates.
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